Although no one likes tightening their purse strings, one place to target is your grocery budget. There are tons of tips and tricks to maximize your grocery money. Start a search today to find ways to save money while eating healthy.
Some of these are techniques, like couponing or using apps to help you save money, but others are quick-to-learn habits that will save you tons of cash in the long run. Here are some tips to help maximize your grocery shopping potential.
1. Check out your local grocery store’s flier
Every week, grocery stores publish their flier listing deals and sales of the week. This is always a great place to start because it lists specials that the store has already marked down. Circle items that you and your family enjoy, and pay special attention to non-perishable items. It’s a good idea to get things that have a long shelf life on special because they will last for a long time. But make sure it’s something you’ll use eventually, not something that you buy just for the deal.
2. Clip coupons
Once you’ve checked out the deals in your local grocery store flier, it’s time to get to couponing. Many Americans are extremely serious about couponing, and use them to save their family thousands of dollars a year. We could write a whole article just about couponing, but suffice it to say that you can never have too many! In order to maximize your couponing, keep an eye out for manufacturer coupons that match current deals going on in stores. That way, you’ll double your savings! Keep your coupons organized and up-to-date, and you’ll never miss out on a deal.
3. Use an app for coupons
Many people who coupon also use apps to help them catch good deals that they may have missed on paper. Apps like Flipp have a huge variety of coupons at your fingertips, so you can scan circulars that you may have missed. Flipp is also capable of making an electronic grocery list if you scan your handwritten copy, which is super handy for making sure you don’t accidently leave your list at home. Another great app is SnipSnap, which turns a photo of a paper coupon into a mobile offer.
4. Meal plan for the week
After you’ve figured out what’s on special this week at your grocery store, the best thing to do next is to plan your meals for the week. This will help you make the best use of the groceries that you buy. No one likes to go into the kitchen to cook dinner only to find that the perishable goods they purchased earlier in the week have, well, perished. It doesn’t have to be incredibly specific, but you should note which meals you’ll be eating at home, and try to pick out recipes. That way, you’ll only buy what you need.
5. Figure out what’s in your pantry
Before heading out to the grocery store, check out what you already have in your pantry. There’s nothing worse than starting to cook dinner, only to find that a key ingredient you need has already been eaten, or has gone bad. One way to make this really easy is to spend an afternoon making a list of every item that’s in your pantry and fridge and note how much of it there is left. Then, print it out and stick it somewhere in the kitchen that’s easy to access (like on the front of your fridge). As you use up items, cross them off the list so you’ll always know what you have on hand.
6. Have a stock of recipes that use up pantry ingredients
One way to save your grocery money is to make sure that you use up everything in your pantry – and an easy way to do this is by having a few recipes in your back pocket that you can make without having much on hand. Salads, pasta dishes, and stir-fries are a great place to start. These dishes can easily use up the odds and ends you have.
7. Make a shopping list
This is a pretty basic tip, but it’s something a lot of people forget. We’re all so anxious to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible that we forget the most fundamental tip of all – make a list! The second part of this tip is to actually stick to buying what’s on the list and nothing else, but that tends to be a lot more difficult. Making a list will keep you on track, and will allow you to purchase your items thoughtfully without having to spend hours in the store.
8. Don’t go shopping while you’re hungry
Another simple tip, but one that makes a huge difference – don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. It becomes very difficult to stick to your list if you go into the store hungry and cranky. That’s when you buy the large chocolate bar you see at the cash register or the cupcake piled with icing. All food at the grocery store is displayed to look as appealing as possible, so make sure you avoid the blatant temptation by eating a healthy meal before you go in.
9. Pick your shopping day based on when your grocery store does its restock
You may not think it makes a difference which day of the week you choose to hit the store, but it definitely does. Most stores restock their produce and perishables on a certain day each week, so you can ensure you’re getting the freshest products if you hit up the store on that day.
10. Buy the store brand
Many chain stores have their own brand, which is often significantly cheaper than the name brand alternative. Buying the store brand is a great way to save money. If you’re unsure about whether the product compares to the industry standard, do some research online. There are many websites and blogs that regularly do blind taste test comparisons between name brands and cheaper store brands.
11. Try to get to the store on off-hours
One easy way to make your grocery shopping experience a little easier is to go during off-hours. Most grocery stores fill up with working shoppers after 5 p.m. and on the weekends. If you’re able, go at an off time, like during the work day or early on a weekend morning. You’ll ensure a much calmer visit to a totally stocked store that isn’t overflowing with busy, hassled customers. It’s much easier to make good choices if you aren’t struggling to push through crowds.
12. Don’t bring your kids
This is something that most parents (especially those who have multiple children) already know, but it does bear repeating. If you have children, do not bring them to the store with you. Not only will they distract you from your organized and well thought out list, their lack of self control will quickly become a major problem. It’s hard enough for an adult to walk by a bakery counter and not purchase anything – imagine how difficult that becomes when you’re only a kid. Do everyone a favor and leave them at home.
13. Utilize your freezer
People who make the best use of their grocery budget generally rely on their freezer to help them keep food fresh long-term. Having a large chest freezer allows you to buy items that are on sale and keep them longer, maximizing your budget. You can also use a large freezer to freeze whole meals, which you can access later when you’re not feeling up to cooking. This way, you can avoid heading to the grocery store for a frozen dinner or hot entrée whenever you’re feeling tired.
14. Use an app to get cash back
There are quite a few apps available now, like Ibotta and Checkout 51, that allow you to scan your receipt and get cash back after your purchase. All you have to do is download the app (Checkout 51 has a desktop version, too), then pick a few items every week. Retailers ask you to complete a short task, like a survey, before going out to purchase the item. Then all you have to do is scan your receipt into the app and they’ll refund you the money for your purchase. You can get your rebate in cash or gift cards.